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Apple Music alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Apple Music: no free ad-supported tier, and android and Windows apps are less polished. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Apple Music, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Spotify currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Spotify logoSpotifyFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 566.5
2Amazon Music logoAmazon MusicFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +22 of 255.3
3YouTube Music logoYouTube MusicFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android0 of 046.7
  1. Spotify logo

    1. SpotifyTop pick

    Best for: Most listeners who want a huge catalogue, great recommendations and apps on every device

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Music

    Better recommendations, a free tier and the widest device support.

    Pros

    • Excellent personalised playlists and recommendations
    • Free tier with ads
    • Works on nearly every device via Spotify Connect
    • Podcasts and audiobooks in the same app

    Cons

    • Low per-stream payouts to artists
    • Lossless tops out at CD-level 24-bit/44.1kHz
    • Home screen pushes podcasts and audiobooks
    Visit Spotify Compare with Apple MusicDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Spotify a good Apple Music alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Users
    788 million, 306 million subscribers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Markets
    184
    Checked Oct 25, 2026newsroom.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, with ads
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lossless
    Up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium plans
    Individual, Duo, Family, Student
    Checked Oct 25, 2026spotify.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Amazon Music logo

    2. Amazon Music

    Best for: Amazon Prime members and Alexa users who want music bundled with services they already use

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Music

    Lossless included with Amazon Music Unlimited, with Alexa integration.

    Pros

    • Free tier and some access included with Prime
    • HD and Ultra HD lossless on Unlimited at no extra cost
    • Excellent Alexa and Echo integration

    Cons

    • Confusing mix of Free, Prime and Unlimited tiers
    • Prime tier is largely shuffle-only
    • Recommendations lag behind Spotify
    Visit Amazon Music Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon Music a good Apple Music alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 2 verified
    Free tier
    Yes, no credit card required
    Checked Oct 25, 2026music.amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Prime benefit
    Amazon Music Prime included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. YouTube Music logo

    3. YouTube Music

    Best for: People who already pay for YouTube Premium or want music videos, covers and live versions

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    46.7

    score / 100

    Why switch from Apple Music

    Free tier with ads and access to YouTube's live and user-uploaded music.

    Pros

    • Access to live versions, covers and remixes from YouTube
    • Included with YouTube Premium
    • You can upload your own music files

    Cons

    • No lossless or hi-res audio
    • Free tier restricts background playback on mobile
    • No official desktop app
    Visit YouTube Music Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is YouTube Music a good Apple Music alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Apple Music alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Spotify logo

Best Apple Music alternative for most people

Spotify

Better recommendations, a free tier and the widest device support.

Amazon Music logo

Best Apple Music alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Amazon Music

Lossless included with Amazon Music Unlimited, with Alexa integration.

Qobuz logo

Best Apple Music alternative for Mac

Qobuz

Higher-resolution streaming plus albums you can buy and keep.

TIDAL logo

Best Apple Music alternative for Windows

TIDAL

Hi-res FLAC up to 24-bit/192kHz and a strong focus on audio quality.

IDAGIO logo

Best Apple Music alternative for iPhone and Android

IDAGIO

Specialist classical service with search built around works and performers.

YouTube Music logo

Best Apple Music alternative for working in the browser

YouTube Music

Free tier with ads and access to YouTube's live and user-uploaded music.

Apple Music alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Music?

Spotify ranks first right now. Better recommendations, a free tier and the widest device support. Qobuz and Amazon Music follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Music?

Yes. Spotify (free plan + paid), Amazon Music (free plan + paid) and YouTube Music (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Apple Music?

None of the 6 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Apple Music?

The complaints we hear most: no free ad-supported tier; android and Windows apps are less polished; recommendations are weaker than Spotify's.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Apple Music, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.